Archive for July 5, 2017

The United States Coach of the Year Award is given to a head coach or co-head coaches who made a noticeable difference in the performance of a scholastic girls’ lacrosse team in a particular season. The coaching performance is not limited to progress made in the year which the award is given.

Here are this year’s nominees:

Al Bertolone, Mount Sinai (N.Y.) — This Long Island powerhouse three-peated as state Class C champions, playing dominant lacrosse when it counted in the playoffs

Kaitlin Doucette, San Diego Torrey Pines (Calif.) — Improved on last year’s season by running the table with a 23-0 record

Jenny Duckenfield, Rosemont Agnes Irwin (Pa.) — Played an all-star schedule to prepare her team for the PAISAA championships, and the Owls responded brilliantly

Alyssa Dragon Frazier, Bridgewater-Raritan (N.J.) — A school more known for boys’ lacrosse success, team finally broke through to not only win the state Group IV championship, but the Tournament of Champions final

Jane Hoff, Hellertown Saucon Valley (Pa.) — In just six years, took a team on a 52-game losing streak to the state tournament

Hilary Grimes, Sutton Kearsarge Regional (N.H.) — After a heartbreaking loss in the final five seconds of last year’s title game, managed to win the state’s Division III championship

Rylee Huffman, Louisville Eastern (Ky.) — In just four years, took a 5-12 team to within a goal of the state championship

Katie Lee, Voorhees Eastern (N.J.) — For a school which is more known for field hockey, this coach managed to turn around a 5-12 team to the state Group IV final

Lisa Lindley, Darien (Conn.) — Despite losing three games in a tough regular-season, plus all of the expectations, Blue Wave pulled through to win ninth state title in the last 10 seasons

Meredith McManus, Abington (Mass.) — A team which had no wins in 2011 and was almost scuttled because of low numbers made the Division 2 South tournament

Chris Robinson, Owings Mills McDonogh (Md.) — Despite playing powerful out-of-state teams and playing the meat of its schedule in just 32 days, team extended record win streak to 177 games

Sharon Robinson, Bronxville (N.Y.) — Team made its inaugural appearance in the NYSPHSAA Class D final